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RUNOFF ELECTION REGARDING UNION REPRESENTATION

Educate Yourself. Make a Decision. Vote!

A secret ballot Runoff Election for eligible UVM staff members in the Administrative, Technical and Specialized job families to vote on the question of staff unionization will take place on November 13 and 14 from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm in Marsh Lounge, Billings Center, at 48 University Place on the University of Vermont campus. (See the Vermont Labor Relation Board's (VLRB) Runoff Election Notice for full details.)

In the Runoff Election, there will be a single question on the ballot, followed by two choices:

Question: Do you wish to be represented for exclusive bargaining purposes by University Staff Union-NEA?

Answering YES means youdo wish to be represented by University Staff Union-NEA at UVM.

Answering NO means you do not wish to be represented by University Staff Union-NEA at UVM.

Regardless of whether or not you voted in the first Election in September, you need to vote in this Runoff Electionon November 13 and 14! A full list of employees eligible to vote is on the Informed Choice website.

Those staff who are eligible to vote in the Runoff Election receive reasonable paid release time to vote.

Remember a Union wins an election by getting a simple majority (50% plus one) of the votes cast. If there are 800 employees in the proposed bargaining unit, but only 100 employees vote, it takes only 51 votes to win the election.

You need to vote so your voice is heard, otherwise a decision could be made that does not reflect your opinion and the result will impact you.

Staff Council will distribute an informational mailing to all non-represented staff through campus mail prior to the election dates. This mailing will serve as a reminder to get out and vote. Take the time to educate yourself, make a decision, and vote so your voice is heard!

What is a runoff election?A runoff election is a second round vote, used when no ballot option receives a simple majority of all votes cast. If during the Election in September, one of the options under Question 2 had received a simple majority of the 618 votes cast, a runoff election would not be necessary.

What will be on the ballot in the runoff election? Voters will be choosing between: (1) being represented by University Staff Union-NEA; or (2) not being represented by a union.

Question: Do you wish to be represented for exclusive bargaining purposes by University Staff Union-NEA?

If I am not in favor of the union, can I express my disinterest by not voting? No. The result of the election is determined by a simple majority of the number of people who cast a vote. Therefore, the only way to express your opinion, either for the union or opposed to the union, is to exercise your right to vote.

For more Questions and Answers on the Runoff Election, see the front page of the Informed Choice site.

Visit our website to learn how you can get involved in Staff Council. Our next Staff Council meeting is Tuesday, November 6, 2012 from 12:05pm - 1:30pm in the Davis Center, Sugar Maple Ballroom.

Staffline Deadlines and Distribution Dates

The deadline for the December Edition of Staffline is Friday, November 1, 2012. This edition will be distributed on December 3, 2012. For more information about submission guidelines and deadlines, please visit the Staffline webpage.